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0-19 (Rev. 12-14-64) TL With one exception, the new book, Maltcoim X Speaks, consists of speeches and statements made between March, 1964, when Mal- colm left the Black Muslims, and February, 1965, when he was as- sassinated. The exception is the first speech in the book, “Mes- sage to the Grass Roots,” which wes given to a militant conference in Detroit on Nov. 16, 1963. This was one of Malcolm’s last speech. és as a Black Muslim, but in it he was already beginning to ex- press ideas (on black nationalism, separation and revolution) that had a different emphasis from the orthodox Black Muslim line. Later, after leaving the Black Muslims, Maleclm developed ideas different, on some points, than he ones expressed in this speech. Installment 1 MESSAGE TO THE GEASS ROOTS We want to have just an off- the-cuff chat between you and me, us, We want to talk right down to earth in a language that every- body here can easily understand. We all agree tonight, all of the speakers have agreed, that Ameri- ca has a very serious problem. Not only does America have a very serious problem, but our — people have a very serious prob- 4, Let — ry lem. America’s problem is We're her problem. The only rea- son she has a problem is she | doesn’t want us here. , And every time you look at yourself, be you black, brown, or yellow, a so-called Negro, y represent a person who pos such a serious problem for Ame: ica because you're not wan YOnce you face this as a fact, then you can start plotting a course tat will make you appear intel- sugent, instéad wf unintelligent. ~~ Je Ua I A HAS RA OANA ‘ Excerpted from the book, Malc#ilm X Speaks, with the permissiog of Merit Publishers; 5 East Third [St., New York, N.Y. 10003, Price $5.95. Copyright 1965 by Merit Publish- ers. ; » LUG ah \0¢ /o>~399321-A NOT RECORDED 167 Nov 3 1965 1965 » p OO NOV 3 EE F< ~Malcolm-X Speaks— Tolson Belmont Mohr DeLoach Casper Callahan Gale Rosen Sullivan Tavel Trotter Tele Room LTT rio tmes Gandy The Washington Post and Times Herald The Washington Datly News The Evening Star New York Herald Tribune New York Journal-American New York Daily News New York Post The New York Times The Baltimore Sun The Worker The New Leader The Wall Street Journal The National Observer People’s World Date 10/25/65 THE MILITANT PAGE 4